A/N from A.C.: Because Saix is a werewolf, his paws/hands look like people's hands but with fur and claws. I still call them 'paws' though. I just seem to like that word more than 'hands' since I call them wolves.

Warnings from A.C.: AU, very paranoid Axel.

That night went by very slowly for Zexion, every time he felt like he should make a break for it and run, a howl of a wolf either sounded out or he saw shadows outside the hut. After what seemed like forever, the teenager finally started to settle down. He curled up on the floor, hugging his knees to his chest, and he closed his eyes.

A few short hours later, Zexion knew that the sun was up but he stayed on the ground, pretending to be asleep.

A slight tap of a furry paw against his cheek made him crack an eye open, and blue eyes were looking into gold. Saix let out a low growl, "Get up, we need to get going."

Sitting up, Zexion rubbed his eyes with closed fists, "I thought I wasn't allowed outside."

"I need to go hunt for the pack. You will be coming with me. I do not trust the others."

"You… You hunt alone?"

"Of course not!" Saix scoffed aloud, "Do you know how dangerous that is?"

The teen stood up, watching the wolf as he stood on his hind paws and crossed his forelegs over his chest. Zexion mumbled, feeling slightly intimidated by the wolf, "Who goes with you..?"

"Axel."

"… Axel?"

"Yes. He is one of my good friends."

"Uh… W- Won't he want to kill me?"

"Axel? No. I am not worried about him." The wolf walked on his back two paws with ease, moving to lead Zexion out of the small hut. Saix was lucky his home was close to the forest. He ordered the human to stay behind a large oak tree as he waited for Axel.

Without warning, a small rock flew at him and hit his snout. Saix narrowed his eyes and growled, "Axel…"

Zexion watched as a wolf, a little bit smaller than Saix, bound out of nowhere and tackled the blue-furred werewolf, pushing him to the ground. This new werewolf had a darkish red coat, but he had almost black markings under his eyes that were shaped almost like upside-down tear drops. The sparkling green eyes almost seemed to be glowing, the teen found them to be very unnerving.

The red-furred wolf seemed to grin, showing his fangs, "Ready to go huntin', Sai?"

Saix growled, trying to move his arms and folding his ears down when he felt them being pinned down, "Axel get off, damn it."

"Oh, fine. You're not any fun, Sai. Too bad Roxy's out or I'd be with him instead of being here. You're just a spoil sport." The smaller wolf reached out and flicked the tip of Saix's snout before he let go of the blue-furred arms and climbed off of the other wolf.

Brushing the dirt out of his fur, Saix muttered, "We need to get going, Axel."

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

Saix got up and settled down on all fours, shaking himself much like Zexion's dog does after it gets a bath. "Let us get going, then."

Axel sniffed at the air, catching the slight scent of the teen, "Hey… Hey, Sai, do you smell that?"

"Smell what?"

"It smells like a human…"

"Oh… That… Axel, I need to tell you about that…"

"No time! If there are humans around here, we've gotta tell the Elders!"

Saix acted quickly, he grabbed Axel by the arm, trying not to do too much damage, and pulled the smaller wolf behind the tree Zexion was behind. "Listen Axel! We are no—"

The red-furred wolf yelped, "Holy shit! It's the human! Quick! Sai, go call Seph!"

"No!" Saix barked loudly, making Zexion cover his ears, "Axel, no! Do not tell anyone! The boy is fine! He is safe!"

Axel paused, "Y- Yeah… but… they've killed our kind before… How do you know this one is different?"

"Look at him. Does he really look like he is going to hurt us..?"

Looking over at Zexion, Axel's features softened. The boy was pressing himself against the tree, cowering in fear. The boy's bright blue eyes were tightly closed and his whole body was shaking.

The red-furred wolf shook his head, "No… He doesn't…"

"Exactly. Please, keep this a secret, Axel."

The smaller wolf pressed his ears back, "You know the rule, Sai… If you don't kill a human when given a chance… the punishment is death… what will they do when they find you hiding one?"